Bergeron Named Selke Finalist

BOSTON, MA -- The NHL announced today that Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron is one of three finalists for the 2011-12 Frank J. Selke Trophy. The Selke Trophy is awarded annually "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game." The other finalists for the award are St. Louis’s David Backes and Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk.

The Selke Trophy

This is Bergeron’s first time being nominated for the Selke Trophy in his eight year NHL career. The 26-year-old led the NHL in plus/minus this season at +36 and won the most faceoffs in the NHL with 973. Bergeron’s faceoff win percentage of 59.3% was second best in the NHL, trailing only Chicago’s Jonathan Toews by .1% (59.4%). Bergeron led the Bruins with 42 assists and finished second on the team in points with 64. He led all B’s forwards in time on ice (18:34) and shorthanded time on ice per game (1:48). His 22 goals ranked fifth on the squad and he tied a career high by playing in 81 games.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association submitted ballots for the Selke Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 20, during the 2012 NHL Awards in Las Vegas. It will be the fourth straight year the NHL has held its award ceremony at The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. The 2012 NHL Awards will be broadcast by NBC Sports Network in the United States and CBC in Canada.

David Backes (St. Louis)
Like Bergeron, Backes is a first time Selke finalist. Backes played in all 82 games this season and led the Blues in goals (24), hits (226) and shots on goal (234) and tied for the team lead in points (54). He averaged just under 20 minutes of ice time per game (19:59), which led all Blues forwards, and finished the year at a +15. He won 48.6% of his faceoffs on the season.

Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit)
Datsyuk has won three of the last four Selke Trophies – including three straight from 2008-2010 – and was a finalist last year. He skated in 70 games this season and finished second on the Red Wings in points with 67 on 19 goals and 48 assists. Datsyuk was a +21 during the regular season and had 97 takeaways, which ranked third in the NHL.